Pharmacists - 29-1051.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Compound and dispense medications following prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, or other authorized medical practitioners.

DOT Titles Included in this O*NET-SOC Code

  • Director, Pharmacy Services
  • Pharmacist
  • Radiopharmacist

Sample of Occupations in this SOC Family

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment and health-care supplies.
  • Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
  • Assay radiopharmaceuticals, verify rates of disintegration, and calculate the volume required to produce the desired results, to ensure proper dosages.
  • Assess the identity, strength and purity of medications.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of drugs and drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications and characteristics.
  • Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
  • Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, and registries of poisons, narcotics, and controlled drugs.
  • Manage pharmacy operations, hiring and supervising staff, performing administrative duties, and buying and selling non-pharmaceutical merchandise.
  • Offer health promotion and prevention activities, for example, training people to use devices such as blood pressure or diabetes monitors.
  • Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, and drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
  • Plan, implement, and maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Prepare sterile solutions and infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients' homes.
  • Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage and proper medication storage.
  • Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
  • Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
  • Refer patients to other health professionals and agencies when appropriate.
  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
  • Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
  • Work in hospitals, clinics, or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultants, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.

Detailed Work Activities

  • accept prescriptions for filling
  • adhere to safety procedures
  • advise clients or customers
  • advise governmental or industrial personnel
  • analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
  • analyze medical data
  • analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
  • answer customer or public inquiries
  • apply drug information to patient treatment
  • assign work to staff or employees
  • calculate medical dosages
  • calculate radiation dosage, following physician's prescription
  • collect scientific or technical data
  • communicate technical information
  • compile numerical or statistical data
  • compound pharmaceuticals or medical preparations
  • conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
  • conduct laboratory research or experiments
  • conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
  • conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
  • create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
  • demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • develop tables depicting data
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • dispense prescribed medications and pharmaceuticals
  • distinguish colors
  • explain complex mathematical information
  • explain uses or effects of drugs
  • follow confidentiality procedures
  • follow infectious materials procedures
  • follow safe waste disposal procedures
  • hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
  • interpret prescriptions
  • inventory medical supplies or instruments
  • inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
  • label pharmaceutical supplies
  • maintain customer records
  • maintain established procedures concerning quality assurance
  • maintain record of medication or equipment dispensed to patient
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • make presentations
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
  • monitor worker performance
  • obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
  • obtain information from individuals
  • order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
  • plan or organize work
  • prepare sterile solutions, infusions, or intravenous packs
  • provide advice on food or drug storage or use
  • provide customer service
  • refer patients to community resources
  • sell merchandise
  • store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
  • teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
  • understand drug products
  • understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
  • understand pharmaceutical formulas
  • understand properties of gases or liquids
  • understand properties or composition of drugs
  • use chemical testing or analysis procedures
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use health or sanitation standards
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of investigation techniques
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use knowledge of metric system
  • use laboratory equipment
  • use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use quantitative research methods
  • use relational database software
  • use research methodology procedures in health care
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • use scientific research methodology
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use word processing or desktop publishing software
  • work as a team member
  • write scholarly or technical research papers
  • write technical health or medical documents